Pegg v. Steel Dynamics, Inc. et al

Filing
37

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI
ABERDEEN DIVISION
CRAIG PEGG
PLAINTIFF
V.
CAUSE NO. 1:16-CV-241-SA-DAS
STEEL DYNAMICS, INC.,
STEEL DYNAMICS COLUMBUS, LLC, and
SEVERSTAL COLUMBUS HOLDINGS, LLC
DEFENDANTS
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Craig Pegg was injured in a fall while performing contracted maintenance work on
Severstal Columbus, LLC’s premises. Seeking damages for his injuries, Pegg sued Steel
Dynamics, Inc., Steel Dynamics Columbus, LLC, and Severstal Columbus Holdings, LLC in the
Circuit Court of Lowndes County, Mississippi.1 Steel Dynamics removed the case to this Court,
and subsequently filed its Motion for Summary Judgment [22] that is now before the Court.
Plaintiff Pegg filed his Response [27], and Defendant Steel Dynamics filed its Reply [29], making
this issue ripe for review.
Factual and Procedural Background
In July of 2009, Plaintiff Pegg filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy and his bankruptcy plan
was confirmed in March of 2010. The Plaintiff’s accident occurred on October 31, 2013. The
Plaintiff subsequently completed his bankruptcy plan, and the Bankruptcy Court closed his case
in August of 2014.
1
After Pegg’s accident Steel Dynamics Inc. purchased Severstal Columbus LLC from Severstal Columbus Holdings
LLC, and now operates the company as Steel Dynamics, LLC. For purposes of simplicity, the Court will refer to these
Defendants jointly as Steel Dynamics. Hydro-Vac Industrial Services, Inc. was Pegg’s employer at the time of the
accident, and American Interstate Insurance Company is Hydro-Vac’s worker’s compensation carrier. Hydro-Vac and
American Insurance were permitted to intervene in this action. See Order [19].
The Plaintiff did not disclose the injury claim asserted in the instant case in his bankruptcy
proceedings. Because the Plaintiff did not disclose his claim in bankruptcy, Steel Dynamics argues
that he is judicially estopped from asserting his claim now. The Plaintiff urges this Court not to
apply judicial estoppel in this case, and in an attempt to cure his non-disclosure, re-opened his
bankruptcy case to amend his schedules.2
The Court must determine whether the principles of judicial estoppel warrant application
here to bar the Plaintiff’s injury claim.
Standard of Review
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 governs summary judgment. Summary judgment is
warranted when the evidence reveals no genuine dispute regarding any material fact, and the
moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. FED. R. CIV. P. 56(a). The rule “mandates
the entry of summary judgment, after adequate time for discovery and upon motion, against a party
who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that
party’s case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial.” Celotex Corp. v.
Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S. Ct. 2548, 91 L. Ed. 2d 265 (1986).
In reviewing the evidence, factual controversies are to be resolved in favor of the nonmovant, “but only when . . . both parties have submitted evidence of contradictory facts.” Little v.
Liquid Air Corp., 37 F.3d 1069, 1075 (5th Cir. 1994). When such contradictory facts exist, the
Court may “not make credibility determinations or weigh the evidence.” Reeves v. Sanderson
Plumbing Prods., Inc., 530 U.S. 133, 150, 120 S. Ct. 2097, 147 L. Ed. 2d 105 (2000).
The moving party “bears the initial responsibility of informing the district court of the basis
for its motion, and identifying those portions of [the record] which it believes demonstrate the
2
The Bankruptcy Court reopened the case and granted leave to amend the schedules. There is no further information
in the record at this time on the further progress of that case.
2
absence of a genuine issue of material fact.” Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323, 106 S. Ct. 2548. The
nonmoving party must then “go beyond the pleadings” and “designate ‘specific facts showing that
there is a genuine issue for trial.’” Id. at 324, 106 S. Ct. 2548 (citation omitted).
Judicial Estoppel
As noted above, the Defendant argues that judicial estoppel bars the Plaintiff’s claims. The
doctrine of judicial estoppel “prevents a party from asserting a claim in a legal proceeding that is
inconsistent with a claim taken by that party in a previous proceeding.” King v. Cole’s Poultry,
LLC, No. 1:14-CV-88, 2016 WL 7191701, at *2-3 (N.D. Miss. Dec. 12, 2016) (citing Reed v. City
of Arlington, 650 F.3d 571, 573-74 (5th Cir. 2011); 18 James Wm. Moore et al., Moore’s Federal
Practice § 134.30 at 63 (3d ed. 2011)). The doctrine is intended to protect the integrity of the
judicial process by “prevent[ing] parties from playing fast and loose with (the courts) to suit the
exigencies of self-interest.” Brandon v. Interfirst Corp., 858 F.2d 266, 268 (5th Cir. 1988) (quoting
USLIFE Corp. v. U.S. Life Ins. Co., 560 F. Supp. 1302, 1304-05 (N.D. Tex. 1983)) (citation
omitted). Judicial estoppel is “an equitable doctrine invoked by a court at its discretion.” Reed,
650 F.3d at 574 (quoting New Hampshire v. Maine, 532 U.S. 742, 749-50, 121 S. Ct. 1808, 149 L.
Ed. 2d 968 (2001)) (emphasis added).
“[A]gainst the backdrop of the bankruptcy system . . . judicial estoppel must be applied in
such a way as to deter dishonest debtors, whose failure to fully and honestly disclose all their assets
undermines the integrity of the bankruptcy system . . . .” U.S. ex rel. Long v. GSDMIdea City, LLC,
798 F.3d 265, 271 (5th Cir. 2015) (citing Reed, 650 F.3d at 574; see also Jethroe v. Omnova
Solutions, Inc., 412 F.3d 598, 600 (5th Cir. 2005) (“Judicial estoppel is particularly appropriate
where . . . a party fails to disclose an asset to a bankruptcy court, but then pursues a claim in a
separate tribunal based on that undisclosed asset.”). The Fifth Circuit has indicated:
3
A court should apply judicial estoppel if (1) the position of the party
against which estoppel is sought is plainly inconsistent with its prior
legal position; (2) the party against which estoppel is sought
convinced a court to accept the prior position; and (3) the party did
not act inadvertently.
Jethroe, 412 F.3d at 600 (citing In re Coastal Plains, Inc., 179 F.3d 197, 206-07 (5th Cir. 1999)).
Discussion and Analysis
In the instant case, Steel Dynamics brought forth sufficient evidence to establish the first
two elements. The Plaintiff argues that he did not assert an inconsistent legal position in the
bankruptcy case because he did not realize he had a claim until he talked to his lawyer after the
bankruptcy case was already discharged. The Plaintiff’s purported lack of knowledge of his claim
has little application to the first two elements of judicial estoppel.3 As the Plaintiff acknowledges
in his briefing, “It is ‘well settled’ that Chapter 13 debtors have a continuing obligation to disclose
post-petition causes of action.” U.S. ex rel. Long, 798 F.3d n.4 at 271 (citing Flugence v. Axis
Surplus Ins. Co. (In re Flugence), 738 F.3d 126, 129 (5th Cir. 2013) (citing Browning Mfg. v. Mims
(In re Coastal Plains), Inc., 179 F.3d 197, 207–08 (5th Cir. 1999)). “Any claim with potential must
be disclosed, even if it is contingent, dependent, or conditional.” Id. (citing In re Coastal Plains,
179 F.3d at 208 (internal quotation marks omitted) (emphasis in original)). “A debtor’s silence
‘impliedly represent[s] that []he ha[s] no such claim.’” In re Flugence, 738 F.3d at 130 (citing
Superior Crewboats, Inc. v. Primary P & I Underwriters (In re Superior Crewboats, Inc.), 374
F.3d 330, 335 (5th Cir. 2004)). To “later raise the claim in a separate proceeding is ‘plainly
inconsistent’ with the implied representation in bankruptcy court.” U.S. ex rel. Long, 798 F.3d n.4
at 271 (citing In re Flugence, 738 F.3d at 130).
3
As discussed more fully below, knowledge component is a factor in the inadvertence inquiry. A debtor is aware of
his claims when he becomes aware of the facts giving rise to the claim. See U.S. ex rel. Long, 798 F.3d 265, 272;
Jethroe, 412 F.3d at 60.
4
The Plaintiff’s purported lack of knowledge of his claim is relevant to the third element,
inadvertence. “[I]f a debtor’s failing to disclose was inadvertent, judicial estoppel is inappropriate;
but inadvertence exists ‘only when, in general, the debtor either lacks knowledge of the
undisclosed claims or has no motive for their concealment.’” U.S. ex rel. Long, 798 F.3d at 272
(quoting In re Coastal Plains, 179 F.3d at 210). To demonstrate inadvertence through lack of
knowledge, a debtor “must show not that he was unaware that he had a duty to disclose his claims
but that . . . he was unaware of the facts giving rise to them.” Id. (citing Jethroe, 412 F.3d at 601).
“Bankruptcy law imposes [the duty to disclose] as long as the debtor has enough information to
suggest that he may have a potential claim; the debtor need not know all of the underlying facts or
even the legal basis of the claim.” Id. (citing U.S. ex rel. Spicer v. Westbrook, 751 F.3d 354, 362
(5th Cir. 2014)).
As the law on this issue is well settled, the Plaintiff’s argument that he did not have
knowledge of his claim until he contacted his attorney to “discuss my potential legal rights under
worker’s compensation laws” is unavailing.4 It is clear to the Court based on the record in this
case, that the Plaintiff was aware of the facts giving rise to his claim, he had a duty to disclose, and
he failed to do so. See id.
The Plaintiff also argues that he can demonstrate inadvertence because he had no motive
for concealment of his claim because all of the claims that were asserted and allowed in his
bankruptcy proceeding were paid in full. With no outstanding claims, the Plaintiff argues that he
had no reason to conceal the claim, a potential asset, from his creditors. Even if the Plaintiff repaid
4
The Plaintiff also briefly argues that he could not have known that he had a duty to disclose a post-confirmation
claim because the law on the issue is inconsistent. Plaintiff relies on In re Flugence, 738 F.3d at 129 to support his
argument. Because the Plaintiff’s plan explicitly states, “All property shall remain property of the estate and shall vest
in the debtor only upon dismissal, discharge, or conversion” any potential inconsistency in bankruptcy law, as
discussed in In Re Flugence is not implicated here. See In re Flugence, 738 F.3d at 129-30; see also GSDMIdea City,
L.L.C., 798 F.3d at 274.
5
the full principal amount of the allowed claims, he did avoid paying at least some interest, was
given sixty months to pay, and had $5,103.21 of unsecured debt discharged.5 This Circuit’s
precedent requires “that there be ‘no’ motive for concealment,” and the interest savings and the
five-year term for repayment alone are sufficient to establish motive to conceal. See U.S. ex rel.
Long, 798 F.3d at 273–74; Jethroe, 412 F.3d at 601; see also In re Watts, No. 9–35864, 2012 WL
3400820, at *7–8 (Bankr. S.D. Tex. Aug. 9, 2012).
Finally, the Plaintiff argues that he has essentially cured the non-disclosure by reopening
his bankruptcy case and disclosing his claim now. The Fifth Circuit has also rejected this argument.
“Allowing [a debtor] to back-up, re-open the bankruptcy case, and amend his bankruptcy filings,
only after his omission has been challenged by an adversary, suggests that a debtor should consider
disclosing personal assets only if he is caught concealing them.” U.S. ex rel. Long, 798 F.3d at 273
(citing In re Superior Crewboats, Inc., 374 F.3d at 336; Burnes v. Pemco Aeroplex, Inc., 291 F.3d
1282, 1288 (11th Cir. 2002)).
In the end, the Court must decide whether applying the doctrine would achieve substantial
justice. As noted above, judicial estoppel is “an equitable doctrine invoked by a court at its
discretion.” Reed, 650 F.3d at 574 (quoting New Hampshire, 532 U.S. at 749-50, 121 S. Ct. 1808)
(emphasis added)). “[T]he Supreme Court has refused to establish inflexible prerequisites or an
exhaustive formula for determining the applicability of judicial estoppel . . . .” U.S. ex rel. Long,
798 F.3d at 271 (citing Reed, 650 F.3d at 574); see also Wright & Miller, Preclusion of Inconsistent
Positions - Judicial Estoppel, 18B Fed. Prac. & Proc. Juris. § 4477 (2d ed. 2015) (“[Courts focus
on] whether allowing a party to take seemingly inconsistent positions in separate actions would
enable the party to gain an unfair advantage, or to impose an unfair disadvantage on its new
5
It appears from the Trustee’s final report that the majority of the Plaintiff’s unsecured creditors did not assert claims.
6
adversary.”); 18 James Wm. Moore et al., Moore’s Federal Practice § 134.31 at 73 (3d ed. 2011)
(“[The doctrine] should be applied flexibly, with an intent to achieve substantial justice”).
“[N]umerous considerations ‘may inform the doctrine’s application in specific factual contexts.’”
King, 2016 WL 7191701, at *4 (citing Love v. Tyson Foods, Inc., 677 F.3d 258, 268 (5th Cir.
2012) (quoting New Hampshire, 532 U.S. at 751, 121 S. Ct. 1808)). The Fifth Circuit has also
stated that the doctrine is “generally applied where ‘intentional self-contradiction is being used as
a means of obtaining unfair advantage in a forum provided for suitors seeking justice.’” Id. (citing
In re Coastal Plains, Inc., 179 F.3d at 206) (quoting Scarano v. Central R. Co., 203 F.2d 510, 513
(3d Cir. 1953)).
There is no evidence or argument before the Court that the Plaintiff has gained any unfair
advantage in this injury suit as a result of his failure to disclose the claim in his bankruptcy
proceeding. Particularly because the Defendant has no interest or involvement in the bankruptcy
proceeding, applying judicial estoppel here would allow it, an alleged tortfeasor, to wholly escape
liability. This situation is somewhat intractable. Neither party is before the Court with clean hands,
and declining or applying judicial estoppel here could result in a windfall for either.
There are some other moderating factors that the Court considers persuasive. First, the
Plaintiff’s employer, at the time of his injury, and the employer’s insurance carrier intervened in
this case. These intervenors paid out more than $10,000.00 in worker’s compensation funds that
could be reimbursed through subrogation. Applying judicial estoppel would cut off these
intervenors claim. In addition, although the reopening of the bankruptcy proceeding is insufficient
to undermine the application of judicial estoppel directly, the Court does find it somewhat
persuasive. A significant amount of time has passed, but the bankruptcy court could still consider
a judgment or settlement in the Plaintiff’s favor and order additional funds repaid if appropriate.
7
Finally, the Court notes that the Plaintiff’s injury occurred quite late in his bankruptcy proceeding,
approximately six months before the Plaintiff completed his payments under the plan. Again,
although this in itself is not enough to undermine the specific elements of judicial estoppel, the
Court finds it persuasive and indicative of a lack of intent on the Plaintiff’s behalf.
Taking all of the circumstances into account, the Court finds the Defendant’s evidence and
arguments insufficient to establish that the Plaintiff intended to obtain an unfair advantage, or to
take advantage of the judicial system. The Court declines to apply judicial estoppel in this case,
under its discretion, and allows the Plaintiff’s claim to proceed.
Conclusion
For all of the reasons fully discussed above, the Defendant’s Motion for Summary
Judgment [22] is DENIED without prejudice.
IT IS SO ORDERED on this, the 9th day of March, 2018.
/s/ Sharion Aycock
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
8

Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.